thread
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a long, thin strand of cotton or silk used for sewing clothes.
n.a fine cord of twisted textile fibres used in needlework and garment construction.
Simple“She chose a blue thread that perfectly matched the colour of her new dress.”
In context“The tailor selected a high-tensile silk thread to ensure the seams of the heavy coat would not burst under pressure.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a series of connected messages or comments on a website or social media app.
n.a chronological sequence of online posts or messages related to a single original topic.
Simple“I found a very helpful thread on the forum about how to fix my laptop.”
In context“The discussion thread grew to over three hundred comments as users debated the merits of the new software update.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the idea or story that connects different parts of a book or speech.
n.a consistent theme or logical progression that connects the successive points of a narrative or argument.
Simple“It was hard to follow the thread of his story because he kept changing the subject.”
In context“The detective struggled to find a common thread between the three seemingly unrelated crimes committed across the city.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a small part of a computer program that can run at the same time as other parts.
n.the smallest unit of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler.
Simple“The application uses a separate thread to download files so the screen doesn't freeze.”
In context“By implementing multi-threading, the developers allowed the engine to process physics calculations and rendering logic simultaneously.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.the raised spiral line around a screw or bolt.
n.a helical ridge on a cylindrical fastener or within a hole, designed to convert rotation into linear motion.
Simple“The screw wouldn't go in because the thread was damaged.”
In context“The engineer specified a fine thread for the adjustment bolt to allow for more precise control over the tension.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to put a piece of thread through the small hole in a needle.
v.to pass a length of filament through the eye of a needle or the guides of a sewing machine.
Simple“He had to squint in the dim light to thread the needle.”
In context“Before she could begin the embroidery, she had to thread the machine with a delicate metallic yarn that frequently snapped.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to move carefully through a crowded or narrow place.
v.to make one's way through a series of obstacles or a crowded space with precision.
Simple“The waiter had to thread his way through the crowded restaurant with a heavy tray.”
In context“The motorcyclist expertly threaded through the stationary traffic, reaching the front of the queue just as the lights turned green.”
- 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to remove unwanted hair using a piece of twisted string.
v.to remove facial hair by using a doubled and twisted thread to pluck multiple hairs simultaneously.
Simple“She goes to the salon every three weeks to have her eyebrows threaded.”
In context“Threading is often preferred over waxing for sensitive skin because it does not involve the use of harsh chemicals or heat.”
Synonyms
“You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments.”
“An HIV thread runs through the story, and if "you're negotiating safe sex, you don't have a say in a relationship with those kinds of dynamics", she says.”
From Middle English thred, þred, threed, from Old English þrǣd, from Proto-Germanic þrēduz, from Proto-Indo-European treh₁-tu-s, from *terh₁- (“rub, twist”). Cognates Cognate with Yola dreade (“thread”), Saterland Frisian Träid (“thread, wire”), Cimbrian draat (“string, thread”), Dutch draad (“thread, wire”), German Draht (“thread, wire”), Luxembourgish Drot (“wire”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish tråd (“thread, wire”), Faroese tráður (“thread”), Icelandic þráður (“thread”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian dredh (“twist, turn”). More at throw.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.